LETTER: Lessons Not Learned

February 20, 2013

Columnist Victor Hanson argues that societies decline because of squabbling over a shrinking pie [Feb. 17, Opinion, "Lessons From The Decline Of Societies"]. He indicates that our pie is entitlement spoils.

I disagree. In the past 30 years the corporations have terminated our health care, taken away our pensions, outsourced our jobs, and reduced our wages while the Republicans fight to end Medicare and cut Social Security. In the same 30 years, the top 1 percent have at least doubled their income while the rest of us have seen our income decline.

Finally, the Republicans have made sure labor is taxed at a higher rate than capital. There is no squabbling. The 1 percent have rigged the system so they cannot lose.

Author Mike Lofgren, in "The Party Is Over," argues that our decline can be attributed to the Republicans' scorched-earth tactics and attempts to seize up the wheels of government -- at least when the Republicans are out of power. An example is Mitch McConnell's announcement that his greatest legislative priority was to ensure that Obama would be a one-term president.